THE Mayor believes Wellington should be holding its Remembrance Sunday service in line with the rest of the nation at 11am rather than in the afternoon.

For as long as anyone can remember Wellington has had a parade and service in Wellington Park in the afternoon on Remembrance Sunday.

But Cllr Gary James, Mayor of Wellington, believes it would be good to look at moving the annual ceremony to the morning and for the town to show its gratitude to the fallen at the same time as the nation does at 11am.

The issue was discussed at Wellington Town Council’s latest meeting and sparked debate about the possible move.

Cllr Ross Henley said: "I congratulate the Mayor for bringing this forward for discussion. We are a big town. I come from a service family and Remembrance Sunday is very important."

But Cllr Will Brown said: "I know a lot of people do like having the service in the afternoon. A lot of people are involved in youth sport on a Sunday morning and moving it to 11am would mean they wouldn’t be able to attend."

Traditionally the Taunton Deane ceremony is held in the morning in Taunton and Wellington’s in the afternoon, which means that local service personnel and members of the Royal British Legion and other Armed Forces organisations can attend both. A move to bringing Wellington’s forward to 11am would therefore present problems.

Town clerk Greg Dyke said: "We work very closely with the Royal British Legion and I am sure together we could undertake this consultation and give it as much publicity as we can."

Cllr Bob Bowrah added: "I strongly support this initiative. We are a large enough town to mark this occasion at 11am, although I’m sure there will be some minor teething problems."

But Cllr Vivienne Stock-Williams said: "We need to have a proper consultation with the local churches. I know churches all over the Wellington area hold services at 11am on Remembrance Sunday and then all come together for the afternoon service."

* WHAT do you think? Should Wellington’s Remembrance Sunday parade and service at the War Memorial be brought forward to 11am or should it remain an afternoon service? Write to us at Wellington Weekly News, 26 High Street, Wellington, Somerset TA21 8RA or email [email protected]